BL:13-2

The Biggest Loser is the only show on television I make time to watch. This season, inspired by the example of Marie, a friend I've never met (here's her blog), I've decided to indulge myself in a weekly post about my thoughts of and reaction to the show. In thanks to Marie for showing me it's okay to write about a TV show and as a tool to help myself write my weekly BL pieces, I think I'll address these to Marie. But even if your name isn't Marie, you're welcome to read.


Dear Marie,


It's Tuesday afternoon, just hours away from the next episode of BL, and I still haven't written to you about last week's episode.  I blame it on:


* the dog we adopted on Wednesday morning following the show -- meaning I was busy getting to know her while watching the show I'd recorded

* and the little bit of annoyed I'm getting by the tone of this season so far.  The trainers are coming across as petulant divas, as evidenced by Bob's pouting "I can't believe he's using my exercises to train his team." I need less focus on trainer drama and more focus on the contestants.

Nonetheless I did get one-and-a-half things out of the episode.

1.  When a nutritionist had all the contestants in a grocery store, she said to them (lightning bolt moment for me): "Treat your grocery cart like your stomach."  And I thought to myself "Why didn't I think of that before?"  With the exception of meat of any variety, if it ends up in my cart, there's a strong chance it'll end up in me. So why, why, why do I purchase foods I have so little control over?

.5  At the end of the show a player was booted off just as he was beginning to crack the shell of his angst.  I'm glad I have it recorded, because I think there was something to that part.  Too bad he went home just then and the producers didn't delve deeper in his exit interview.

I won't be around to watch tonight's episode either, Marie, but I can hardly wait to make time to watch it.

Ack! Was that running I just did?

Dear Diary,

Ohmygodohmygodohmygod.  I was really, really scared on the treadmill today.  I started 5K training today, using the Couch To 5K program at www.coolrunning.com.  I've started it before, but usually freaked myself out by looking ahead to the weeks when I'd be jogging for more than 8 minutes straight.

So I told myself  "Don't think about those weeks, just start with Week One, Day One." I did read ahead though and figured out that the program - as far as I can tell - assumes a 10-minute mile.  My mile is usually anywhere from 12-18 minutes, so I knew 10 minutes would be something new for me.  But, hey!  The first week is jog 60 seconds, walk 90 seconds for 20 minutes.  Surely I can try.

I got through the first set fine.  During the second set I started getting scared.  By the third set, even though I was going along fine with nary a cramp in my side, I was absolutely terrified.  I wanted to sit down and cry, leave the gym, have someone hug me -- I was scared.

And I have no idea what I was afraid of.

I didn't hit the 6mph rate again till about 1 minute left, when I'd calmed myself down a bit. 

I still don't know exactly what scared me so much.  Some things I remember being afraid of:

my heart rate was 179
my arms were plumping like Ballpark Franks
the treadmill was whining, and the faster I went, the more siren-like the belt sounded

But why was I so worked up that even after I was in my car, heading to the grocery store, my teeth were nearly chattering from fear?

I wonder if anyone else has experienced this.